The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-07-07
MY BALLOON VOYAGE

~ WoO g 8A~J NsSWasS UsASA VAs0 az
gave q promise Of q fine winter day
az our balloon shot amidst tho OK.
pectant crowd of mingled soldiers and
citizens who bade us godspeed in our
desperate venture to carry to Chanzy
tidings of the condition Of beleaguered
Paris, and to ascertain the best-or
worst to be apprehended from with
out: The Ariel that was the name
of our vessel-was fully equipped for d
long voyage. and We hoped that
by judicious management We
would be able to deliver the import
ant dispatches intrusted to us; and iii
the event Of difficulty a. to the return
trip We would seek as high an altitude
as was consistent with safety, and; il
the current proved contrary; seek i
hospitable welcome On the north shore
of the British channel: There, at least;
would We be safe from the marauding,
implacable, iron handed German, al.
most Ubiquitous in France, until fav.
0ring winds would make return easy.
We were freighted with very
important dispatches and every
precaution had been taken for
their instant destruction by
powerful chemicals, in case of accident
or the fortunes of war placing US at
the enemy's mercy. My two compan-
ions were Mr.. Frank N. Page, a young
Virginian, and an officer named Hen:
riot, and we had an arsenal of weap-
ons, ammunition, dynamite bombs;
etc., and were provided with excellent
field glasses:
"What a grand sight!'' said Page;
rapturously, as the Ariel SCARED aloft
in the quiet morning, leaving below
us, spread out like q vast panorama;
the beautiful city and It's envlr.
ons, with. it's agerega:
ton OF triumphs of architecture, it's
fountains and columns, it's squares,
its gardens and pa, ks, with the Seine
winding like, a silver thread through it
all, and the beautiful city of Versailles
in the distance. 1t was indeed a sight
to awaken rapturous admiration Of
the beautiful. To Henriot, however,
it was full of bitterness. The beauty
was lost to him. His keen military
instinct effected his vision, and to him
the most obtrusive features of the
panorama over which Page and en-
Unused were the triple lines of
the beseiging army and the frowr-
Ing batteries which like black
sentinels, at short intervals, marked
the line OF siege. We were feasting on
the scene when suddenly We heard a
distant shot, quickly followed by sew
eral others.
Were discoveredr' said Henriot,
''They are feeling our range"
drop out some ballast, said Page,
who was our engineer. 1--WE are too
low for safety. Those Internal needle
guns have a long range"
Puff Puff! Puff! We could see the
jets of smoke, quickly followed by the
sound of the rifles of the hostile marks
men. Tie wind was scarcely percep-
tible and We moved very slowly. I
threw out more ballast.
Bang! The shock was so unexpected
and startling that l nearly fell over the
side of the car. Henriot was returning
the fire. Bang! again went his rifle.
l grasped my field glass and adjusted
the focus. 1glanced at Henriot. He
was aiming at group, evidently Off
GERS, who were doubtless discussing
their unexpected early visitors from a
slight knoll.
Bang! went the heavy rifle again.
Several seconds elapsed, when sudden.
~ one of the group tumbled from his
horse and the animal reared and
plunged furiously.
"YOur rifes!" excitedly cried Hen
riot, and, in less time than it takes
me to tell it, we were all three firing
at the force below us, with what effect
could not distinguish. There was a
perfect fusilade from the infantry and
g body of Uhlans rode along.
firing at us on the run.
At one point a six-pounder was
trained on us, but our increasing speed
and height put it's use beyond POSSIBLE
ity. The wind was freshening and
Paris was rapidly receding to the west.
We were sailing along at the height of
about mile, and had just begun to
congratulate each other on having
distanced the pursuing -Uhlans and
passed the Gordon which encircled the
fatal capital when new enemy ap-
peared, conjured up by the telegraph
which the Germans used so skillfully.
1t was another balloon!
This was a serious matter. In the
very nature of things it was clearly q
battle ONO ordinary character must be
fought; attaining our altitude
which was evidently the enemy's Oh
ject-we would DRIFT in close proximity
to each other in the same air current
and a deadly rifle duel would follow,
ending up in the death or disabling of
either crew. These thoughts ran
rapidly through my mind as took
in the situation. 1glanced at Page.
Evidently a similar train of thought
had been engaging him. Henriot had
got done thinking and was cropping
amid the stock of offensive weapons
with which we were supplied, having
evidently matured a plan ofcampaign.
'They must not rise under us or
we're lost" said he. "Can you afford
to lower us?"
EYES," said Page; and he had scarce
ly spoken when felt the Ariel sinking.
THAT will d." said Henriot.
'"They will be nearly on our level when
we get within range. We will try our
rifles first and, failing, we must drop
out ballast and get above them. Our
bombs will do the work-if, indeed,
contact with the light structure OF
the balloon will produce conclusion
sufficient to explode them. l doubt
if it will"
Henriot was treasure. Hediscuss-
ed tho probabilities of success at the
height of over half a mile, on this zep-
hyr ship, with as much sang froid as
If he were going out on address, parade.
l was terribly apprehensive and l
thought Page was even more so, but
Henriot's GOODNESS steadied my nerves.
Even the desperation born of terror
is better than abject numbness, and a
moment later each of us held a Chasse-
pot rifle awaiting the deadly enc oun-
ter.
1--WE have the advantage yet, said
Henriot, as he carefully placed q cart
ridge in q convenient position; 1--WE
must use it to the full. Those fellows